Latest Best of NY

Getaway Guide: One Tank Trip To Long Beach

Known as the city by the beach for good reason, Long Beach, Long Island has the bay on one side, and the ocean on the other, effectively surrounding it with beaches. With its small community feel and pristine, white sandy beaches, Long Beach is an oasis less than an hour outside of Manhattan.

Getting to Long Beach is easy. With so much to offer, deciding what to do upon arrival presents the bigger challenge. If you’re like most Manhattanites and don’t own a car, you can take the LIRR from Penn Station to Long Beach Station. The ride is less than an hour and only $11.50 per person.

If you prefer to drive, the best route to take is I-495 East to Nassau Expressway toward Long Beach. The expressway runs straight to Atlantic Beach Bridge into Long Beach. The entire drive is typically less than an hour depending on traffic.

No matter the route or mode of transportation, whether it’s a fun trip with the kids or a romantic getaway for two, Long Beach offers a little something for everyone.

Price: $10 for a daily pass/discount packages also available through LIRR
Click here for beach rules and events.

This four-mile stretch of beach is the city’s main attraction. Home to volleyball teams, beach bums and surfers, this white sandy stretch is a tropical paradise tantalizingly close to home. Build an entire city out of sand or try to take down the waves of the Atlantic, but be sure to forget that the hustle and bustle of Manhattan 25 miles away. Purchase beach access at the Recreation Center at 660 Magnolia Blvd.

For nearly 50 years, Gino’s of Long Beach has been a staple in the community, offering some of the best slices New York has to offer. From traditional thin, crispy crust topped with everything from meatballs to buffalo chicken and thick, Sicillian slices like any good Italian grandma would make, Gino’s offers the ideal meal. The restaurant’s comprehensive menu boasts a wide selection of Italian classics such as baked ziti, chicken marsala and veal piccatta.

The Long Beach Boardwalk could also be called the city’s main street, entertaining visitors and residents alike. This 60-foot-wide boardwalk stretches for more than two miles. With city on one side, complete with condos, apartments, restaurants and storefronts, and the ocean on the other, it’s perfect for an entire day or just an afternoon. Year round, cyclists, joggers and mom groups dot the walkway, taking in everything the boardwalk has to offer. Every summer, the city also holds an arts and crafts fair on the boardwalk, featuring everything from handmade jewelry to exquisite artwork. Dogs are not allowed here.

Bahia, which translates literally to bay, is a Brazilian tapas-style restaurant in the heart of Long Beach. Not the typical tapas spot, Bahia looks like a beach shack from the outside and serves up delicious cuisine and specialty cocktails while live bands play for dancing crowds. Chef Rich Reilly is in his element creating dishes such as pulled-pork arepa, jerk chicken and fish tacos. Like Bahia on Facebook for a free drink.

Live in the lap of luxury for a night at this beach-front hotel overlooking the Long Beach Boardwalk. From modern, sleek, elegant design to bright, airy rooms and even a rooftop pool, the Allegria has every detail covered. Head to the beach through a private access tunnel where the beach concierge caters all day. Once you’re sufficiently sunned, grab a bite at Chef Todd Jacobs’ renowned hotel restaurant, Atlantica.